Qld real estate agent denied bail over assault allegations 

Matthew Allan Stanley, who runs Matthew Stanley Prestige Property Investments, faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The 48-year-old, who is also the founder of Asset Economics, is contesting the allegations, according to The Courier-Mail.

According to Magistrate Belinda Merrin, police alleged Stanley grabbed a woman by the neck after she searched a Formula One driver on social media on 11 March.

Stanley allegedly repeated his actions a second time after the complainant reacted and hit him.

Merrin said during another incident on 18 November, Stanley had similarly used violence and caused bodily harm to the woman.

“There are photographs of the injuries, which was a not insignificant bruise on her left arm,” Merrin said.

Additionally, police alleged Stanley also put his hand over the woman’s neck on February 13, the court heard.

Prosecutor Lauren Archer argued there was a “high risk” of Stanley reoffending, referring to his “short but relevant” criminal history.

However, Legal Aid duty lawyer, Kirstyn Nicholson, claimed Stanley did not have any matters of actual violence on his criminal history.

Nicholson also said Stanley would be willing to attend a domestic violence program as part of his bail, and suggested other conditions such as reporting to police and securing a mental health plan.

Additionally, she said Stanley was a productive member of the community who the public would want to see rehabilitated.

According to Merrin, rehabilitation was irrelevant in the matter of bail and that, if convicted, actual imprisonment was inevitable for Stanley.

Stanley’s bail application was denied and the matter has been adjourned to 27 March.